Kim Kardashian says Keeping up with the Kardashians will end in 2021
The reality series launched in 2007, and produced a dozen spin-off shows.
- Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian accept the E! People's Choice Award for reality show of 2019 for Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Fans of Kim Kardashian West and family will have to find other ways to keep up with the reality-show-famous family. (Spoiler: It won't be hard.) Kardashian West announced on Tuesday that after 14 years, 20 seasons and a dozen spin-off shows, the E! reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians will come to an end in 2021.
"We are beyond grateful to all of you who've watched us for all of these years -- through the good times, the bad times, the happiness, the tears, and the many relationships and children," her statement said. "We'll forever cherish the wonderful memories and countless people we've met along the way."
❤️💔 pic.twitter.com/PaAF4hgmU5
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) September 8, 2020
Kardashian West's message is timely. Season 19 of the show premieres Sept. 17 on E!, with the 20th and final season to come sometime in 2021.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians follows the family of Kris Jenner, who had four children with lawyer Robert Kardashian, who died in 2003, and then two daughters with retired Olympic decathlon champion Caitlyn Jenner. It produced numerous spin-off shows, including Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, Rob & Chyna, and Life of Kylie.
Kardashian West did not give a reason for the show's end, but in a statement, E! said it was the Kardashian family's decision.
"While it has been an absolute privilege and we will miss them wholeheartedly, we respect the family's decision to live their lives without our cameras," the statement read.
Some fans expressed disappointment about the announcement, with one Twitter user writing, "I'm gonna miss y'all so much."
IM GONNA MISS YALL SO MUCH
— ♡ 𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖊 ♡ (@barbbiedrip) September 8, 2020
I’m heartbroken but thank you so much for letting us keep up with you! What are we going to do now! Wait for north and the kids to be old enough 😭😭😭😭
— Jamal Greaves (@Official_Jamal) September 8, 2020
But not everyone thought the end of the series was bad news. Some, shall we say, had snarkier responses. "2020 might've turned a corner,'" wrote one Twitter user.
Said another, "How I wish I could go back to the days when we had no idea who any of these people were."
2020 might’ve turned a corner
— J. Reed (@HTownDarKnight) September 8, 2020
How I wish I could go back to the days when we had no idea who any of these people were.
— Jon Nelson (@jonmnelson) September 8, 2020
Don't worry. There'll be a spin-off for each of these "stars". pic.twitter.com/AeiECWe02Z
— Sox4NY3 (@Sox4NY3) September 8, 2020
New York Times' television critic James Poniewozik was neither a fan nor a hater but noted that the show made its mark on television history, writing, "I don't know how someone could argue that it was not one of the most pop-culturally important shows of the century."
I am not at all current on KUWTK, & I have never gotten invested enough to hate on it, but I don't know how someone could argue that it was not one of the most pop-culturally important shows of the century.
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) September 8, 2020
And at least one Twitter user saw a political future for Kardashian West, writing, "Kim's probably running in 2024. A whole kabinet of Kardashians."
Kim’s probably running in 2024. A whole kabinet of Kardashians.
— Amy (@AmyinCLE) September 8, 2020
